Pneumatic direction signal light



Dec. 12, 1939.

J. F. MOFFETT l 2,182,816

PNEUMATIC DIRECTION SIGNAL LIGHT Filed Dec. 3, 1936.

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Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PNEUMATIC DIRECTON SIGNAL' John F.Moffett,

half to Willa Mae LIGHT Decatur, Ill., assigner of one- Moffett,Decatur, Ill.

Application December 3, 1936, Serial No; 114,048

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a direction signal light and it aims toprovide a novel construction operable by the vacuum created within aninternal combustion engine or by compressed air, or the equivalent.

It is further aimed to provide such a structure wherein signals areoperated one to indicate an intended turn to the right and one toindicate an intended turn to the left, each being under control of amanually operable valve and an associated time delay or dashpotcontroller including an electric switch for the illuminating means ofthe signals.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following taken in connection withaccompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the improvements in diagram;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the controldevices and its switch, and a control valve, and

Figure 3 is a detail illustrating the valve connection between thevacuum reservoir and the intake manifold.

Referring specifically to the drawing, a fragment of an intake manifoldof an internal combustion engine is suggested at ID and a pipe II incommunication therewith leads to a vacuum reservoir I2. Installed inpipe Il adjacent to the reservoir, is a valve I3 illustrated in Fig. 3of the conventional type used in inner tubes for the tires of vehiclewheels, which valve serves to permit air to be taken from the reservoir.

Pipes I4 lead from the reservoir I2, adjacent the top thereof, and aredetachably coupled as at I5 to tubes I6, rising from cylinders I1 ofcontrol devices. Operable in each cylinder I1 is a piston I8 having astem I9 surrounded by a coil spring 20 of the expansive type, engagingthe piston I8 and a part of the cylinder at opposite ends, normallyurging the piston downwardly as shown in Figure 2. The interior of thecylinders I1 are in communication with the tubes I6 and the latteraccommodate movement of the stems I9 when the pistons move upwardly.

Detachably screw threaded to the lower ends of the cylinders are caps orplates 2I, the screw threads being shown at 22. The cap 2| has anormally closed valve 23 adapted to open when the piston I8 is raised,through the suction created by such raising. Each cap 2l has a contact24 thereon. Each cap 2l also has a second (Cl. ZOO- 82) contact 25fastened thereto, being of resilient metal and inherently urged intocontact with that at 24. The contacts 24 and 25 are insulated from cap2l as shown and normally are disengaged since the latter is helddepressed by a projection 2t on the piston I8, one of these partspreferably being insulated at the Zone of contact with the other.Conductors 21 lead from the contacts 2E to signal lamps 28.

Said signal lamps 28 are preferably mounted within cells or compartmentsof a suitable casing 29. A panel 3S is disposed over the casing 29having portions preferably red as at 3l and 32, behind which stop lightsand tail lights may be arranged and having arrow shaped portions 33 and34 over the respective bulbs 28, the former preferably being green so asto indicate a turn to the right while the latter is of a differentcolor, preferably red, orange or amber to indicate a turn to the left.The portion 35 about the arrows 33 and 34 is preferably opaque. It willalso be understood that the panel portions 3| and 32 are partitioned offfrom the cells or compartments containing the bulbs 28. A suitableneedle valve device 36 forms part of the end plate or cap 2l, and it isadjustable to control the outlet of air. Normally the pipes I4 areclosed against the action of vacuum by valve devices as at 31 and 38.Such devices are similar and include casings 39 in which plugs 40 arevertically movable and normally urged upwardly by expansive coil springsat 4I. The plugs contain passages 42 therethrough so that when depressedthe passages 42 will align with the bore of the pipes I4.

With the improvements installed on an automobile, when a turn iscontemplated, the valve device 31 or 38 according to the direction ofthe turn to be made, is depressed thereby arranging the passage 42 ofthe depressed valve in alignment with the bore of the associated pipeI4, thus subjecting the control device communicating therewith to theaction of the vacuum created by the engine in manifold I0 The vacuumcreated by the intake manifold moves the air from the associatedcylinder I1 and the normal pressure of the air will then cause thepiston I8 therein to raise compressing the coil spring 20 which willallow the contact 25 to spring up into engagement with the contact 24 toclose an electric circuit from the battery, through the groundconnections with the framework of the automobile and signal lamp 23 incircuit therewith. When the piston I8 reaches its highest position, thevalve 31 or 38 associated therewith may then be released whereupon thepiston I8 by gravity and aided by the spring 240 will slowly descend inthe cylinder forcing the air in the cylinder out through the needlevalve 36, the adjustment of which governs the length of time necessaryfor the descent of the piston. At the lowermost position of the piston,projection 26 engages contact 25 and moves and maintains it out ofengagement with the contact 24, breaking the circuit through theelectric lamp in question at 28. Valve 23 is in the nature of a poppetvalve and its function is to permit a large volume of air to entercylinder Il quickly and then close.

It will be realized that the invention provides a plain, simple, durableand effective means of signalling the direction of a contemplated turn,without the necessity of opening the Window of the automobile or thelike and it provides a construction Which after manual operation of thevalve 3'5 or 3G, is automatic in its action.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

It will be pointed out that the reservoir I2 insures a constant vacuumon the pistons I8 when the valves 3'! and 38 are operated.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described for vacuum or pressure operationcomprising a cylinder, a tube to conduct the operating media extendingfrom the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder to be operated by the vacuumor pressure, a stem on the piston extending into the end wall of thecylinder remote to the piston, said tube being alined with said stem toaccommodate the movement of the stem, a spring engaging the piston andcompressible through its movement, contacts carried by and locatedWithin the cylinder, means on the piston on the opposite side to thespring to disengage one contact from the other at one limit of movementof the piston, said contacts being adapted for connection in an electriccircuit.

2. A device of the class described for vacuum or pressure operationcomprising a cylinder, a. tube to conduct the operating media extendingfrom the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder to be operated by the vacuumor pressure, a stem on the piston extending into the end Wall of thecylinder remote to the piston, said tube being alined with said stem toaccommodate the movement of the stem, a spring engaging the piston andcompressible through its movement, contacts carried by the cylinder,means on the piston to disengage one contact from the other at one limitof movement of the piston, said contacts being adapted for connection inan electric circuit, a valve to permit entry of a large volume of air tothe cylinder, a valve carried by the cylinder to control the outlet ofthe air, a plate on the cylinder carrying said contacts and said valves,said con"f"l^ts extending through the plate into the interior thereof,and a projection on the opposite side of the piston to the springengageable with one contact one extreme ci movement to separate it fromits companion.

JOI-IN F. MOFFEI'I'.

